Car construction



Aug 19, 1941- s. B. HASELTINE 2,252,889

CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed oct. 27, y1959 l l@ WW? Patented Aug. 19, 1941 l Stacy B. Haseltine, La Grange, 5111., assignor to `W. Hl lVIiner,` Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application October `2.7, 1939,'Serial No..301,569'

6 Claims.

This invention relates `to improvements in car construction. Y

. In the operation of railroads, it has been the practice to Connect the bodygand truck bolsters of a carby a; locking centerpin to hold the bolsters against vertical separation while in service. Sectional pins` which are; expansible to interlock with` shoulders on the bolsters have been employed for this purpose. However, in the caseof` certaintypes `ofcars, the construction is such that it isimpossible to insert these locking pins fromthetop ofV thewunderframing and the `pin must therefore beu inserted from the underneath side of the truck bolster.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved car construction, particularly for cars wherein` the` pin, must b e applied from underneath ithetruck bolster, wherein the pin is `com-` posed of sections which may be expanded to interlock with Vthe bolsters `and may be readily applied from `underneath the truck bolster and locked, in position by a central filler element which acts as the spreading means, whichller element is accessible :formanipulation from beneath said truck bolster Aand maybe readilyobserved to.` facilitate lockingand unlocking ofJ the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bolster locking. center. pinof the character set forth in the., preceding paragraph, comprising a pair of outer sections ormembers headed Aat opposite ends for shouldered engagement withthe bolsters, and a central `filler or spreader element which is rotatable tol bring the sameinto shouldered; locking engagement with `means at the lower ends of the outermembers of thepin to hold said spreader element against removal in a downward direction from between said outer members.

A `further object of the invention is to provide a bolster locking center pin comprising a pair of outer sections and a central ller section or element for holding the outer sections separated, wherein the outer` sections have laterally, inwardly projecting supporting ledges at their lower ends and the filler element has laterally projecting portions adapted to rest on said ledges to hold the iiller element against removal in a downward direction.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description` and claims hereinafter following.

. In thedrawing forming a part of this specication, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken lengthwise oithe car` through themid-portions of the-body and truckbolsters of the underframe structure, illustrating my `improvements in connection therewith,` the center pin being shown in elevation. Figures 2, 3 and 4 are horizontal sectional views of the center pin only, corresponding respectively to the vlines 2-2, 3 3, and 4 4 ofFigure 1. llrefl, sition.

In-said drawing, I `indicates thebody. bolster of thecar and II the truck bolster. .These bolsters are Lof usual well-.known'des'ignfthe body `loutshowing certain parts in different pobolster being provided with acent'er section I2` to accommodate the center` pin, and the truck bolster being provided with an upstanding hollow boss or ilange I3projectingintothe'section I2oit` the body bolster. The section I2'is of substantially tubular form having an inwardly projecting, horizontally disposed, interior, -annular angeor rib I4 between the top and bottom ends thereof. The flange .I4deiines an opening I5`V adapted to accommodate the` center pin. Above the` ange I4 `the section I2 forms a pocket I6`to accommodate the head `at the upper end of the pin. The annular hollow boss or upstanding ilange I3 of `the truck bolster II extends into the bottom portion `of `the openingof the section I2 of the body bolster, as most clearly shown in Figure 1. The` hollow boss provides a circular opening II to accommodate the center pin. The opening I'I of the truck bolster and the opening I5 of the body bolster are in axial alignment. Below the opening I1 the truck bolster is provided with a pocket I8 having a bottom wall I9. The bottom wall I9 has an openingy 2D therethrough,` axially aligned with the openings I5 and II, but of greater diameter than these openings. The pocket I8 serves the purpose-of accommodating the head at the bottom end of the center pin. As-shown in Figure 1, the pocket I8 isof greater size than the opening I1 of the boss I3, thereby providing a downwardly facing shoulder 2| adjacent said opening, which cooperates with the head at ,the bottom end of the center pin to restrict upward movement of the latter. The usual bearing plate or shim 22 is interposed between the body and truck holsters around'the upwardly projecting boss I3 of the truck bolster.

My improved locking center pin` comprises broadly a pair of outer members or sections A and B and a. central spreader or ller element C.

The two outermembers Aand B are of the same design, but reversely arranged,as will hereinafter appear. Each outer member comprises a, substantially semi-cylindrical shank A.23 and Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig V truck bolster, with heads 24 and 25 at the top and bottom ends of the shank. The top head 2li is in the form of an eccentric, substantially semi-cylindrical, outstanding ange, and the bottom head 25 is in the form of a concentric, substantially semicylindrical flange. The inner sides of the members A and B are in contact at their lower ends and diverge upwardly away from each other from said zone of. contact, this contact being on substantially flat vertical faces, preferably of a Vertical height at least as great as the thickness of the iiange or head 25 of either outer members. The diverging arrangement of the upper portions of the members A and B permits collapse of said upper portions of the pin to make possible removal of the members of said pin.

The heads 24-24 at the upper ends of the members A and B are made of such a'size and contour that they will pass freely through the pin receiving openings l5 and ll of the body and truck bolsters when these members are inserted or removed, in succession from underneath Ythe the filler element absent, so that the upper portion of the center pin may be collapsed.

At the bottom side of the head 2% of each memberrA and B, there is a depending lug 25. lug 26 comprises a vertically disposed, transversely curved wall 2 having a laterally, inwardly directed, horizontal shelf or ledge 28 at its lowerend portion. The ledge 23 is provided on its upper side with an upwardly opening slot forming a 'seat 29 substantially radial to the vertical center line of the pin. As will be seen upon reference to Figures 1 and 4, the lugs 2%-26 are spaced apart a considerable distance and are reversely arranged, that is, with the concave sides. of the walls 2li-27 facing each other. i

The ller element C comprises a cylindrical shank 3i) and a head 3| at the lower end of the shank. The head' 3l has radially, oppositely projecting wings 32-32 thereon and a depending eye portion 33. The wings 32-32 are of such a length that they overlapV the shelves 28-28 of the lugs when the element C is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4, and are of such a thickness that they seat freely in the seats 25J- 29 of said shelves or ledges 2823. The element C is of such a'length that the eye portion 33 at its lower end protrudes beyond the lower end limits of the outer members A and B, thus making it readily accessible to the attendant for manipulation of the element C.

The top end of the shank or the element C is preferably beveled off, as shown, to facilitate insertion of said element between the outer members A and B of the pin.

The inner sides of the members A and Bu are centrally, vertically slotted or grooved, as indicated at 34 in Figure 3, and as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. These slots or grooves are of concave cross section and when the members A and B of the pin are in assembled position form a central bore in which the shank 3) of the element C ts loosely and is rotatable.

As will be seen upon reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, when the pin, comprising the outer members A and B and the filler element C interposed between said sections, isv applied to the bolsters, the shank of the pin substantially ts the openings I5 and Il of the body and truck holsters, with the heads 2li-2Q and 25-25 disposed respectively above the shoulder presented by the flange or rib I4 ofthe body bolster, and below the shoulder 2i of 4the truck bolster. The

Each

asaeee pin is thus held against removal in both downward and upward directions.

In applying the center pin to the holsters, one of the members A or B is first inserted through the openings of the bolsters from underneath the truck bolster, and displaced laterally outwardly to engage the heads 24 and 25 thereof with the shoulders of the bolsters. After this has been done, the other member is then inserted from underneath the truck bolster, being passed through the opening of the bolster in inclined position so that the upper headed end will pass freely through said opening. As will be evident, the diverging relation of rthe upper portions of the members A and B provides the required clearance between the inner sides of said members to permit inclining of the member last inserted to the proper extent. After the second member has been fully inserted, it is displaced laterally outwardly at its upper end to bring the head 2d thereof into shouldered engagement with the body bolster l0. Due to the fact that the members A and B have their inner side faces adjacent the lower end of the pin contacting, the head 25 at the lower end of the member last inserted will be forced to engage beneath the shoulder 2l of the truck bolster, when the members A and B are in the assembled position shown in Figure 1. The ller element C is next inserted.

between the members A and B from Yunderneath the truck bolster to hold the upper ends of said outer members separated and in shouldered engagement with the body bolster. Before application of the element C, it is turned so that the wings EEZ-32 thereof are in alignment with and extendlengthwise of the opening betweenfthe lugs 2%-26 at the lower ends of the members A and B, as clearly shown in Figure 5. Inasmuch as the wings 32-32, when in this position, pass freely between the lugs 26-26, the filler element may be shoved upwardly until the wings are brought to a position above the level of the shelves 28-23 of said lugs. With the wings thus positioned above the level of the shelves, the element C is given a quarter turn, thereby bringing the wings into registration with the slots or seats 293-29. In this connection it is pointed out that the outer. members A and B of the pin are held against relative rotation or shifting with respect to each other about the axis of the pin by the contact provided on their inner sides at the lower ends thereof, thus at all times maintaining the lugs and their seats `in transverse alignment, thereby assuring proper accommodation of the wings 32-32 of the element C in said slots. The elementrC is then permitted to drop downwardly or is pulled down forcibly by the eye 33, to seat the wings in the slots 29-29. This is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4. As willrbe evident, the element C is thus held locked against rotation with respect to the members A and B, thereby preventing the wings (i2-32 of said element from reaching a position of alignment with the opening between the lugs 26-26 and possible accidental dropping out of the element C from betweenthe members A and B. Y

In removing the center pin, the reverse procedure is followed. The element C is Yfirst shoved upwardly to lift the wings 32-32 thereof clear of the seats Zei-29 of the lugs atthe lower ends of the members A and B and is then given a quarter turn to align the wings with the opening between the lugs. The element C is then withdrawn from between the members A and B by pulling the same downwardly, a hook or similar tool being used for this purpose, the eye 33 serving as a convenient means for anchoring the hook. After withdrawal of the filler element, the outer members are removed in succession, the upper end of the pin being rst collapsed by rocking one of the members A or B toward the other, thus bringing the top head 24 of the member which is rocked into registration with the pin receiving openings of the bolsters.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, ,but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In ear construction, the combination with body and truck holsters having aligned center pin receiving openings; of a center pin insertable from beneath said truck bolster, said pin including a pair of outer members headed at opposite ends for shouldered engagement with the bolsters, and a central filler element interposed between said outer members for holding the same spread apart, said filler element being rotatable and having a laterally extending projection at` its lower end and one of said outer members having a lug at its lower end provided with a ledge on which said projection is seated by rotation of said ller element to hold the latter against removal in downward direction.

2. In car construction, the combination with body and truck bolsters having aligned center pin` receiving openings; of a center pin insertable from beneath said truck bolster, said pin including outer members headed at opposite ends and a central filler element between said outer members, said filler element holding the pin expanded with the heads thereof in shouldered engagement with the bolsters; spaced retaining ledges on the lower ends of the outer members;

and a transverse locking portion on said'element adapted to pass between said lugs in one position of said element, said element being rotatable to bring said locking portion into position to overhang and rest on said ledgesto support said element against withdrawal in a downward direction from between said outer members.

3. In a locking pin of the character described, the combination with elongated outer members having retaining flanges at the top and bottom ends thereof; of a ller element between said outer members, said ller element being rotatable with respect to said members; supporting ledges at the bottom ends of said outer members; and a transversely disposed, elongated locking member at the lower end of said element adapted to rest on said ledges to support said element against downward displacement, said ledges being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said elongated locking member to provide an opening therebetween to permit passage of said locking member when said element has been rotated to a position to align said locking element with said opening.

4. In a locking pin of the character described, the combination with a pair of elongated outer members having retaining flanges at the top and bottom ends; of an elongated cylindrical ller element between said outer members, said outer members being cut out to accommodate said cylindrical element; opposed key supporting pockets on said outer members at the bottom ends thereof, said pockets having openings facing each other; and an elongated, transverse, rigid key portion on said ller element, said key portion being of a width to pass between said pockets, and of greater length than the spacing between said opposed pockets.

5. In a locking pin of the character described,

the combination with an elongated central filler element of cylindrical cross section; of a pair of elongated outer members embracing said filler element at opposite sides, said outer members being headed at opposite ends; opposed supporting ledges on the lower ends of said outer members; and diametrically aligned supporting lugs on the lower end of said ller element supported on said ledges when said ller element is in one position, said lugs being of a width to pass freely between said ledges when said element is rotated through an arc of from said position.

6. In a locking pin of the character described, the combination with a pair of outer members headed at the top and bottom ends; of a rotatable cylindrical ller element between said outer members for holding the same separated; opposed, horizontally disposed, supporting ledges on said outer members at the bottom ends thereof, said ledges having upwardly opening seats at opposi-te sides of the center pin; and oppositely projecting, horizontal xed arms on the bottom end of said ller element supported on said ledges and engaged within the seats thereof to hold said central element against rotation.

STACY B. HASELTINE. 

